1285. The dung of domestic fowls approaches very nearly in its nature to pigeons' dung. Uric acid is common to it, and the dung of birds of every kind. It gives carbonate of ammonia by distillation, and immediately yields soluble matter to water. It is very liable to ferment. The dung of fowls is employed, in common with that of pigeons, by tanners, to bring on a slight degree of putrefaction in skins that are to be used for making soft leather. For this purpose the dung is diffused through water, in which state it rapidly undergoes putrefaction, and brings on the required change in the skin. The excrements of dogs are employed by the tanner with similar effects. In all cases the contents of the grainer, as the pit is called in which soft skins are prepared by dung, must form a very useful manure.
